Month: June 2007

Going to See the General

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

I checked in with the secretary and then entered the General’s office. It was the first time I wasn’t nervous around a general officer. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I demonstrated the respect due any senior leader but my knees weren’t knocking. I wasn’t feeling the anxiety I normally experienced. The reason for the calm is clear. He had been my battalion commander and we had developed a close professional relationship. Relationship makes all the difference. That’s what we have with God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, a relationship. And now, rendering all proper respect due to the Creator, we can enter into God’s presence with confidence and calm.

THE ODDS ARE AGAINST YOU, YOU HAVE TOO MANY

The LORD said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, `Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’‘ So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. (Judges 7:2-3)

The answer was ‘NO’ from the Chief of Chaplain’s Office the first time I applied for the chaplaincy. I had banked on the fact that I was an Airborne Ranger and the Army needed me. Even the Chief’s Office had affirmed me two and half years earlier. Seems my permanent hearing loss and my school credentials would keep the chaplaincy out of my reach ‘forever’. I was crushed. Three years later, through some miraculous circumstances, I was suddenly eligible again. The message was clear. God didn’t need all my tabs and badges. He would receive the credit for my accessioning to the Army Chaplaincy. Some times more is not better. To God be the glory!

ONE STEP CLOSER TO GLORY

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

When you are young, death seems like something reserved for the unlucky in combat or a parachute jump. But the older you get the more the reality of such a fate begins to soak in. Then the big reach for significance begins to take over; a reach for promotion, power, material goods, and anything that would satisfy the yearning to be somebody who has done something. But unless we invest in the eternal, we simply toss it all to the wind. Fix your eyes on the eternal.

GETTING OLD

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

My brother, was talking to an older gentleman when he remarked, ‘I’m feeling old.’ My 41-year-old brother, replied, ‘Yah, I know what you mean.’ The man in his 60’s rebutted, ‘No you don’t. You’re still young.’ To which my brother replied again, ‘And how many combat equipment parachute jumps do YOU have?’ You know, my brother has a point. For a lot of us it’s not age, it’s mileage. Yes this tent will fade but our hope is in Christ who will be able to rescue us from our decay. Everyday is just one step closer to glory.

Souvenirs VS Treasures

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

I can remember as a kid sneaking up to the attic to look at some of my Dad’s old stuff. My favorite things were in an old footlocker. The wooden box contained maps, uniforms, equipment, and other trinkets. When I opened it up, I was immediately confronted with the smell of rotting souvenirs from the Vietnam War. The smell was an aged combination of jungle and sweat, a unique odor of decay. They were pretty cool things to rummage through but it would be foolish to treasure that kind of stuff (or any other material thing for that matter). It’s all rotting away. We need to remember that our riches are stored in heaven. We need to deepen our relationship with Christ and extend our love to other people. These are the treasures that bear the sweet aroma of our good works and are kept safe in an eternal footlocker.

You are Different

The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

(1 John 2:6)

 

I had the opportunity to walk through the halls of the High School I had dropped out of six months prior. I strutted past familiar classrooms in my dress greens and peered through the glass looking for friends. I came to my US History class and the teacher glanced my way. It was the same teacher who told me I would never amount to anything. It was apparent that he either didn’t recognize me or didn’t want to recognize me. One thing for sure, I was different. I was not the same guy he had scolded a half a year earlier. The same should be said for us as Christians as we walk the halls of this world. A good question to ask ourselves; Am I the same person I was six months ago, a year ago?  Am I becoming more like Christ?

 

Pass it on to a friend in need of change. 

 

 

 

 

Set Free

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

After returning from a deployment to Kuwait for Intrinsic Action and Operation Desert Fox, I jumped into my car for the first time. As I drove down the street, my Explorer seemed like a new fit and much more comfortable than my Hummer back in the desert. I also realized I could drive anywhere I wanted. I was free. What a feeling of relief! We can experience a similar freedom in our lives through our relationship in Christ. Jesus has freed us from the power of sin and death. We receive incredible liberty through the knowledge of God’s love and His benevolent acts of grace toward us. We breath a sigh of relief, knowing that our freedom leads to eternal life and greater commitment to Him. We are free in Christ!!!

First Shot is Not Always a Hit

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:19-20)

It was a perfectly good windshield on a old pick up truck and everyone was eager to get a shot at it. The goal for the eight snipers was to see what type of deflection the windshield would have on the bullet. The Lieutenant was standing on the firing line explaining how we would all shoot at the same time. Ready, aim, fire, BANG, my weapon was the only one that splattered the windshield. It seems the LT was still in the process of explaining the commands. Not only was he very weak-kneed from being scared half to death by the unexpected shot, but he was very angry (so were the rest of my sniper compadres). Likewise, there are times we are quick to shoot off our mouth before we fully understand the situation. We need to listen carefully before we engage in speech, especially if we are angry. Once words are spoken, they can’t be retrieved.

Through the Storm, Not Always from the Storm

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:17-18)

Have you ever noticed they don’t put guys who are cold, wet, and hungry on recruiting posters? The fact of the matter is, as a soldier, sometime or another, you’ll be all three (and probably all at the same time). That’s the reality of being a soldier. The same is true for the Christian life. God does not promise a painless life but He does promise He’ll get you through it. He will make a way through those tough circumstances. Our job is to endure and trust in Him as He guides us through the storm.